K–12 Programming

Overview

Since 1998, the Book Arts Program has provided hands-on education in art, history, cultural studies, and literacy appreciation to Utah's K–12 students and educators. As current resources allow, many events are offered at no cost to participants, and programming seeks to serve audiences with greater need and fewer educational opportunities. Through K–12 outreach initiatives, the Book Arts Program facilitates classroom visits and hosts workshops, celebrating the innovation, collaboration, and excitement for learning that come from expressing ideas through creative, hands-on experience.

Book Arts Treasure Chest


Scheduling classrooms

The Book Arts Treasure Chest takes book arts, a cross-curricular learning tool, directly into Utah classrooms. Book Arts Instructors present the "History of the Book", including contemporary artists' books, using rare books and facsimiles as examples from the J. Willard Marriott Library's Rare Books collection that students view and handle. Book Arts Instructors then guide students in a bookmaking activity that relates to their current curriculum. Beginning in the 2024–2025 school year, The Book Arts Program will be offering the Book Arts Treasure Chest to 9–12th grade classrooms.

To schedule a no-cost Book Arts Treasure Chest visit at your school for 9th–12th grade, please register below or email us at k12bookarts@utah.edu.

REGISTER


Virtual Programming 

Divided into a series of short, engaging video presentations, the Book Arts Virutal Treasure Chest covers Ancient Mesopotamia, Ancient Egypt, Ancient China, Ancient Rome, The Rosetta Stone, Mesoamerica, Palm Leaf Manuscripts, Illuminated Manuscripts, and Fremont Rock Art. Discover a teaser video for the Book Arts Virtual Treasure Chest . Upon registration, we will send you a PDF with the links to view these videos, which you can show to your students at your own pace or when these historical books enhance core curriculum. Note: there is a shortened version adapted for K–2nd grade classrooms.

Additionally, the Book Arts Virtual Treasure Chest includes the option of adding a bookmaking activity inspired by one of the books from the presentaiton, along with easy-to-follow video instructions. You will be able to select one of our bookmaking activities in the registration form linked below. Sets of bookmaking materials for each of your students will be available to pick-up at the J. Willard Marriott Library if you live within Salt Lake County or shipped to your school. Tools are not included though most of the book forms require no more than a glue stick, writing instrument, and/or a pair of scissors. Please note that although we cannot guarantee delievery by a certain date, we will do our best to fulfill your request in as timely a manner as possible. Teachers can request kits for their class once each school year as our staffing and resources allow for up to 40 students; or teachers may reqeust kits on behalf of their entire grade. Exceptions may be made for Art Specialists.

This offering is free to all K–12 Utah educators. To register for The Book Arts Virtual Treasure Chest, please register below or email us at k12bookarts@utah.edu.

REGISTER

Educators' Workshops

Educator-specific workshops provide teachers with ideas for cross-disciplinary lessons and bookmaking techniques to integrate into K-12 curricula. Through these grant-supported workshops, the Book Arts Program strives to deliver a variety of bookmaking instruction suitable for teachers and students of all grade levels and abilities. We offer an Educators' Intensive and/or teach half-day workshops for teachers throughout the year. Keep an eye on our Workshops & Events page or sign up for our Educator Newsletter to stay updated on when these workshops are held—all eligible for USBE re-licensure points. 

If you are interested in hosting a professional development workshop for your district or school, please email us at k12bookarts@utah.edu. 

Please visit our Additional Resources for K–12 Educators page for additional no-cost offerings!